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A woman was fighting for her life today after staggering from a burning vehicle in a car park beneath a block of flats in London.

She was engulfed in a fireball after fleeing the blazing car in a basement under Dorset House in Marylebone Road, where apartments sell for more than £1 million.

Residents were ordered to leave last night amid fears that the fire could spread to a Total petrol station.

More than 150 people were forced to flee as smoke began seeping into the lobby of the art deco building near Baker Street station.

One worker said: “Everyone had to get out. You could see the smoke coming through so it was worrying, especially with the petrol station so near.”

Police are investigating the possibility that the woman set light to her Ford Focus in an abortive suicide bid. CCTV cameras caught her driving into the garage before the car burst into flames.

Firefighters found the woman, who is her fifties and has not been named, collapsed on a stairwell ground floor level of the NCP car park.

The car, which was completely destroyed, was one level below. She was airlifted to hospital with severe burns. Her condition today was described as critical. A source said: “No one is entirely sure what has happened.”

The car park, petrol station and a stretch of Gloucester Place were sealed off as police investigated today. Commuters who had left their vehicles inside were prevented from collecting them. The car park was set to reopen this afternoon.

Residents described smoke from the basement seeping into neighbouring homes and businesses.

Basit Usman, 20, who had only moved into Dorset House earlier in the day, said: “It was my first night here so I had no idea what was going on. I just threw on whatever I could and ran down.

“I could smell the smoke, so that panicked me and I got out as quick as I could. The whole of Gloucester Place was full of people waiting for the commotion to end.”

Grade II-listed Dorset House was built in 1934 by celebrated architects T P Bennett and Joseph Emberton. The 10-storey building features huge corner balconies and a carved relief at the main entrance by sculptor Eric Gill.

It contains 208 flats, with one-bedroom apartments selling for up to £500,000 and bigger ones fetching more than £1million.

The neighbourhood has attracted famous residents. Stars who have bought properties nearby include Madonna, Paul McCartney and Noel Gallagher.

A fire brigade spokesman said 30 firefighters had been sent to the scene and the petrol station was closed as a precaution.

A spokeswoman for NCP added: “All emergency services have been involved and the police closed the car park. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers because of this incident.”